Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-03-25
In FRONT OF THE FIGHT.
GLADSTONE. TAKES THE LEAD IN DE-
TENSE OF IRELAND,

And Asks for a Bill of Particulars of Al
legged Irish wickedness-yyhich 1t Is
Promised Balfour VIII Furnish-Har-
fington's Treatment of u Court Sum-
mons-M sceIIaneous Foreign Notes.
LONDON, March 70 in the house of COM
mons Thursday evening Gladstone called at
tention to the unprecedented position OF the
hoass, which had already been i'll session tive
months. During that time its independent
right TO initiate legislation had been stitei
and the Conservatives were exuiting over
the prospects of Passing motion to force the
house to surrender the whole of its time until
the government could carry through TO pass
age an Irish bill Of increased and unwar-
rantabIe severity This kind Of pressure, he
said, would have tendency to undermine
the authority of the chair, and bring into
disreputs the rules of procedure. Ths pres
ent position Of the house, Gladstone
said, was altogether different from
that which it occupied during the
period of its consideration of the coercion
act of 1851. Hitherto when ministers had
asked permission to introduce legislation
dealing with crime in Ireland they had en-
deavorei to show that crime existed there to
the extent of terrifying the law-abiding por-
ton of the people and of subYerting the law
fully constituted authority of the govern
ment. Such is not the case now. They
make no such attempt 1t is sufficient crime
in the eyes of the government that tie PEG
pie Of Ireland have combined to secure a re-
duction of rent. The evidence Of Gen. Belief
before the Irish land commission had proved
that nc general ovement was made against
the payment of rent, but that tenants had
simply combined their efforts to have the
rents reduced to fair and just amount While
preaching the doctrine of sanctity Of contracts
Gladstone continued, Baifour was intending
to introduce a bill violating the terms Of
leasehold contracts adjusted under the land
act of 1881, just as the judicial rents were
adjusted. 1t was not for the purpose of vim
dicating the sanctity of contracts, nor to rel
press a widespread outbreak Of crime and
| outrage that coercion for Ireland is now de-
handed BY the government, and whatever
the naturN Of the governments bill may turn
out to be VIII n it is disclosed, it is the duty
of the Liberal marty now TO refuse to vote
urgency for ii introduction. Gladstone
trusted that the people Of England would
see the Liberal paty united in opposition to
this measure to its last stage, and expressed
hope that the Liberals wo uld proclaim with
all the strength ! justice and reason against
| government JShich, after eghty-six years
| of EXPERIMENTAL been given to it in vain,
| was now preparing to strike fresh blow at
| the life and happiness Of ireland, and at the
prosperity and unity of the empire
Chamberlain expressed his condemnation
of the attitude Of those who not knowing the
| nature of the bill refused the government an
| opportunity to introduce and discuss it
| Experience, he said, has shown that for
| merly enacted remedial measures have
| failed of their object AMI the condition of
| Ireland was as bad as ever, il not worse
The government, he thought, had been I'M
| justly accused of in,acerityt and vagueness
concerning their proposals, and on no better
grounds than the fact that they could not
expect to develop AMI explain them on a mo-
ton of urgency fer the better adninistra.
ton of justice where remedial measures had
failed. For the statement that the bill was
framed with the Object of Sc
| curing the collection Of etces-
sive rents there wa no excuse
or Justification whatever Chamberlain said
| tHttt ne Ud'l never LOT u ltDIleTJ "dNtr6l
in his opinion that remeii1l measures would
have no possible chance CT success while the
National league was regarded by majority
of the people of Ireland as a supreme author
ity in matters concerning the relations be
tween landlord and tenant II, said he, pub
lie speaking in lrelendwere stopped, the Par.
nellites could leave their responsibility for
bloodshed to the government
Healy remarked that from the remarks Of
Chamberlain he had learned for the first
time the real object of the bili--the sup
preston of the National league He ex-
pressed hope that the government would
suppress the league, as in hat event the Irist
members would be relieved OF great response
bility.
| Upon the occasion OF the introduction d
the coercion bill. Baifour. chief secretary fol
Ireland, will reply 10 Giadstole's demani
that the house be informed what crimy exists
in Ireland that justities the government;
measure \ measure has been prepared by
the lord lieutenant Of IRELAND to assist tht
chief secretary in Obtaining the Legislation
required By tie government in pursuauc. o.
its Irish policy.